Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Scripture Lesson just read, from Isaiah 61. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- It is difficult for us to fully fathom how dissatisfied God is with the current conditions on the earth. It is difficult for us to fully fathom how distasteful human sin and iniquity is to God.
- We have our discouraging experiences with our possessions and belongings. We spill coffee all over our desk, and in cleaning up the mess we see how many papers and books are ruined. We are in a car accident and see how our beautiful vehicle has become mangled and ruined. Hail comes and we see our shingles beaten off and our siding dented.
- These feelings must be utterly intensified beyond imagination to get an inkling of God’s disappointment with human sin.
- So it should come as no surprise to us that God is eager to “RESTORE RIGHT” on the earth. It is a surprise that He didn’t just start over. That is what we often have to do to “restore” our possessions. However, human beings are much more valuable and cherished by God! He cannot just throw us away and start over. He seeks to “restore us” to right!
- This is the Word that God gave to Israel in our text. It is the Word that He has given to us and to all of humanity. And in it:
I. God Clearly Reveals That He Loves Justice And Right, And That He Hates Robbery And All Wrong
Text: “For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong.”
Statement: We forget how repugnant evil is to God. We are accustomed to “the ways of the world.” We learn the rules, and that we have to play by the rules. Selfishness and self-interest is a huge part of this. Where would advertising be if people had no “self-interest”? Where would capitalism be with no selfishness? The lines get blurred. “Caveat emptor,” “let the buyer beware,” becomes the rule. Not just in financial matters, but in sexual matters, matters of the heart, matters of loyalty, matters of love – the real lines of right and wrong get blurred, then smudged, then rubbed out altogether. God hates it all!
Application: Rather than simply condemn and destroy all human evil and sin, God rather reaches out to us. But He does not do so “empty handed.” He has promised forgiveness and mercy – and He has provided the just foundation for it in the sacrificial death of His Son, our Lord Jesus. He calls us to repent, with the promise and hope of forgiveness and cleansing! It is in this way that God seeks “TO RESTORE RIGHT” among humanity! And so:
II. God Promises, He Makes An Everlasting Covenant, To Bless Those Who Repent And Believe In His Gracious And Merciful Love
Text: “I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.”
Statement: There is a recompense for sin – which all are aware of: “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” We all experience this reality day by day, with aging, illness, accidents, and ultimately physical death. But God promises a different “recompense” for those who repent and believe in His forgiveness and salvation – eternal life and bliss in His heavenly kingdom. “He that believes the Son has everlasting life.”
Application: This is God’s good and gracious will for all people. It is His mission from the fall of mankind into sin – “TO RESTORE RIGHT” with humanity! And He has been accomplishing this now for many centuries! We are blessed as children of God not only to receive His gracious mercy and forgiveness, but also to participate in the restoration of our hearts and minds, so that we also repudiate “robbery and wrong” and rejoice in “justice,” in what is good and right. And in this way we have been restored so that we see things as God does, restored to “godliness.”
Transition: And while those who remain “unrestored,” who continue to “love robbery and wrong” and hate justice, despise those whom God has changed and restored, God promises in our text that:
III. God Will Restore Recognition And Blessing To His People
Text: “Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.”
Statement: Now it is true that God’s people will have to suffer some indignities from unbelievers – “we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of heaven.” Nonetheless, it is God’s will that we see the blessedness of God’s work of restoration of humanity – and that even unbelievers must acknowledge this blessedness! Some react with jealousy and indignation; but such reaction flows from ignorance and continued commitment to evil. However, among God’s people there should surely be recognition that: “godliness with contentment is great gain.” [1 Tim. 6:6]
Application: What is not repaid and recovered in this life will be recompensed to us a hundredfold in the life to come – where there is no need, no want, no tears, no pain, no grief, but pure unmitigated joy! What is unknown of the blessedness of God’s people in this age will be made fully know on the Last Day! And so we remain eager for Christ’s return! In the meantime, however, we are overjoyed to be part of “GOD’S MISSION: TO RESTORE RIGHT.” For this we give Him unending thanks and praise!
Conclusion: So let us keep in mind how intense God is in accomplishing His goal and mission of restoring right to humanity! Let us remain in full accord with His view of things, hating robbery and all wrong, but loving justice and what is right and good. To this end, let us continue to repent and to trust in God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness. There is no question as to the blessedness that God bestows upon His people as He restores right! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.